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The Warriors will be seeking revenge for three straight regular season losses to the Utah Jazz in Friday night’s marquee match-up.
Here we discuss the odds and analysis from a betting perspective.
When: Friday, October 18th, 2018 at 7:30pm PST
Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
TV: ESPN
Line: Warriors -2, total at 218
Injuries: Andre Iguodala (calf) is questionable and DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) is out for Golden State. Raul Neto (hamstring) is out and Thabo Sefolosha (suspension) is out for Utah.
Andre Iguodala didn’t practice today. Questionable for Friday’s game at Jazz with left calf tightness.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 18, 2018
Utah Jazz: The Jazz come off of a 123-117 win in Sacramento on Wednesday, led by strong performances from Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.
The Jazz did not cover as 8.5 point favorites with the total going well over the posted number of 206.
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Golden State Warriors: The Dubs took care of business against an Oklahoma City Thunder team that was without Russell Westbrook, winning 108-100 at Oracle Arena.
The Warriors did not cover the 12.5 point spread and the total went under the final posted number of 220.
Miss last night's matchup? Catch some of the best moments right here #JBLxGSW pic.twitter.com/WU5wnjeFc7
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 17, 2018
Stephen Curry played like a former-unanimous-MVP seeking another one, but perhaps one of the most promising signs on opening-night was the capable play of the Warriors’ young big men, particularly Kevon Looney and his team-leading +23 in 18 minutes and solid fourth quarter presence.
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Analysis: Seeing the Warriors as only a two-point favorite should make any Dubs fan who knows typical spreads for Warriors games take pause.
Why is it so small?
If the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, then the Dubs are going to get blown out by 19+ points and not cover the spread like the last three times they met in the regular season.
Though two out of the last three games these teams played against each other went over the posted total, we might lean to the under in this game based on an anticipated defensive intensity as the squads head out of the gate.
Considering previous trends and the possible absence of Iguodala, it might be prudent to stay away from taking a side in this game.
But if you can’t possibly see an MVP-seeking Steph, KD, Klay and Dray letting themselves lose to the Jazz for four straight games, two points is not a lot to lay.